20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great monster flick, but where's the finale?, September 2, 2000
I have to admit that I'm a bit of a sucker for a good monster movie, and when I heard about KOMDODO (awesome creatures who have amazed me ever since I saw one eat a cow whole on a documentary programme!) I couldn't wait to see it.
Having enjoyed ANACONDA I was expecting more of the same from KOMODO and more or less that's what you get. For a low budget flick it's cast more than come up to scratch, with some nicely judgd performances all round, and the script is competent enough for the movie to flow without hardly any cringe worthy dialogue sequences to speak of. The young teenager who revisits the island where his parents were brutally attacked and killed the beasts of the story, particularly impresses, especially as there's a neat twist near the end where his character seems to undergo an unexpected but effective transformation.
The direction is also top notch, with a nicely judged sense of pacing, boasting some brilliantly executed scare moments (along with fingernail chewing scenes of creepy moments before the attacks), and the special effects guys and gals deserve a huge pat on the back for producing some quite awesome looking Komodos. What's more, unlike ANACONDA (where the big snake moved too unrealistically during some CGI scenes), the Komodo's actions do hold a close match to their behaviour in the wild. The blending of animatronics and CGI is also impressive, so much so that you begin to even forget which is which.
It's a shame then, that just when the movie seems to be building towards a classic monster finale, it falls short and wraps up far too abruptly. It really does feel that the company ran out of money and that the director had to come up with a ham fisted end scene because he had no other choice. The last scene after the Komodo mayhem is particularly poor, and it does harm the film's lasting impression upon you.
Still, there's some great work beforehand, and I wouldn't hesitate in recommending this to any monster movie fan, or to anyone who doesn't mind a bit of fantasy entertainment.
The DVD itself boasts an impressive anamorphic widscreen print and the use of sound will have you jumping out of your seat (there's a choice of Dolby Suround 2.0 or Dolby Digital 5.1). There's also an audio commentary from the director (but not from the actors as stated on some sites), trailers, a fascinating real life facts of the Komodo text file, and two featurette making ofs (although with my copy these could not always be accessed successfully).
Highly recommended then, even if the ending falls short.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fun Movie!, August 29, 2000
I enjoyed Komodo, but these sort of movies appeal to me. It is a fun movie that is not meant to be taken too seriously. The special effects were top notch, and their were a few moments that made you want to jump out of your seat. The acting was adequate enough for a B-Movie.
Bottomline, Pop some popcorn, and sit back and watch this Fun little monster movie. If you enjoy movies such as Anaconda, Jurassic Park, Aliens, Deep Rising or Deep Blue Sea, you will probably enjoy this too.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Cheesy Good Time With Some Nifty Lizards, August 12, 2000
"Komodo" is an enjoyably silly, occasionally creepy thriller. The premise of a bunch of Komodo dragons (the world's largest lizards, and very nasty beasties in real life) living on an island off South Carolina is preposterous, and the script and acting never rise above the standard for this kind of thing, but the lizards are impressive and worth checking out for fans of movie monsters. It's basically an old-fashioned "giant animal" b-movie (a la "Them" or "Black Scorpion") with slightly more believable monsters, some nice effects work and a splash of gore here and there. Not a great movie by any means, but then it doesn't try to be. Have a few beers, chuckle along with the stiff dialogue, enjoy a scare or two, and cheer on the dragons! (For anyone interested in a fascinating take on the real Komodo dragons that manages to be both scary and quite funny, I heartily recommend the book "Last Chance to See" by Douglas Adams.)
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
